U.S. expands target list for strikes on Syria as delay gives Assad time to prepare

If an American strike on Syria does take place, it would be heavier than originally planned because Assad’s regime has been given time to disperse its forces, officials have briefed the U.S. press.

But British Foreign Secretary William Hague warned of an “alarming moment in the affairs of the world” on Sunday if no country is prepared to take military action over the poison gas attacks in Syria.

That would be a very alarming moment in world affairs

On the eve of a meeting in London with John Kerry, his American counterpart, Mr Hague said that America was “disappointed” but “understanding” of Parliament’s decision to stop Britain from joining any such campaign.

But the Foreign Secretary cautioned other countries against following the lead of the House of Commons. He implicitly urged the U.S. Congress to give President Barack Obama the authority he wants for military strikes designed to deter Syria’s regime from using chemical weapons.

“If it is decided in the various parliaments of the world that no one will stand up to the use of chemical weapons and take any action about that, that would be a very alarming moment in the affairs of the world,” said Mr Hague.

He added: “Allowing the spread and use of chemical weapons in the 21st century is an evil that we have to stand up to.”

Mr Hague told the BBC that he was resolved to prevent parliament’s decision on Syria from diminishing Britain’s voice in world affairs. “I’m very determined that Britain won’t matter less,” he said. “We are a country that still moves the dial in world affairs.”

David Cameron urged Mr Obama to respond with force to the poison gas attacks in Damascus on August 21. At the time, he did so from the position of a Prime Minister who was prepared to join a military campaign. But the vote in the Commons deprived Mr Cameron of the ability to deliver that help.

Mr Hague said that America remained committed to the “special relationship” none the less. “Americans do understand – though they were disappointed – about the vote. We are a democracy and therefore we respect the outcome of that and actually they’re very understanding of that. They’re very committed to what we call the special relationship, which goes much deeper and broader in our economies, in our intelligence sharing, and so on.”

The meeting between Mr Hague and Mr Kerry in the Foreign Office today will happen against a background of the rewriting of Western plans for intervention in Syria. Immediately after hundreds of civilians were gassed in Ghouta, a suburb of Damascus, it looked as if an Anglo-American military response would follow rapidly.

Since then, Britain has been forced to drop out and Mr Obama has decided to call his own vote in Congress, imposing a significant delay.

The Senate will probably make its decision in the coming week, but the House of Representatives may not follow until later, meaning that any military action is not imminent – and may not happen at all if Congress so decides.

That diminishes the importance of the talks between Mr Hague and Mr Kerry. This could have been a meeting between two foreign ministers in the throes of a joint military campaign. Instead, one country will not be participating; the other is embroiled in political wrangling that has yet to produce a final decision.

At first, the plans called for a relatively limited attack involving about 50 targets, it was reported.

But the delay imposed by Mr Obama’s decision to allow a vote in Congress has given the Syrian regime breathing space to spread its forces, including chemical weapons, around the country. A businessman who recently visited Damascus said that military barracks in the capital had been evacuated and soldiers were now billeted in schools.

The White House has responded by asking the Pentagon for an expanded target list. The latest plans provide for an initial strike, followed by mopping up operations to destroy any surviving targets, with the whole campaign to be finished within 72 hours.

More forces would be used than first planned. Five U.S. destroyers, presently deployed in the eastern Mediterranean, are likely to fire Tomahawk cruise missiles. In addition, the air force could employ B2 bombers armed with stand-off weapons.

“There will be several volleys and an assessment after each volley, but all within 72 hours and a clear indication when we are done,” one official familiar with the planning told the Los Angeles Times.

When he decided to call a vote in Congress, Mr Obama said the military option had no time limit and would be equally effective whenever it was launched.

He will address the nation from the White House on Tuesday as he tries to secure Congressional approval for military strikes.

Mr Kerry said that any U.S. campaign would be specifically targeted on “degrading” the Syrian regime’s ability to use chemical weapons.

With his eyes on the crucial vote in Congress, the US secretary of state has embarked on a European tour to rally international support for America’s position.

Having met European Union foreign ministers in Lithuania on Saturday, Mr Kerry moved on to Paris yesterday where he held talks with representatives of the Arab League.

Mr Kerry compared today’s situation with the Munich agreement of 1938, when Britain and France appeased Nazi Germany by allowing the annexation of the Sudeten area of Czechoslovakia in return for empty pledges from Hitler.

This is not the time to be silent spectators to slaughter

“This is our Munich moment,” said Mr Kerry in Paris. “This is our chance to join together and pursue accountability over appeasement.”

He added: “This is not the time to be silent spectators to slaughter. This is not the time to allow a dictator unfettered use of some of the most heinous weapons on Earth.”

President Francois Hollande of France has promised that his forces will join any US campaign. Using words that might, in different circumstances, have been used about Britain, Mr Kerry said that America was “exceedingly grateful that France is by our side”.

As for whether Parliament in London might be asked to reconsider its decision, Mr Hague said the Government “respected” the outcome of the vote and had no plans to call another. “If circumstances change dramatically,” he added, “then of course everyone would be looking at this in a different way.”

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